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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 






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FAREWELL ADDRESS 



TO THE 



PAYSON CHURCH, SOUTH BOSTON, 



Delivered November 22, 1857. 



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BY REV. J r , h; fairchild 



11 By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not 
triumph over me." 



BOSTON : 
PEINTED FOE THE "AUTHOR 

18 5 8. 




3 {nzuo 



PRINTED BT 

GEORGE C. RAND & AVERY 



DEDICATION. 



TO THE PEOPLE OF MY LATE CHARGE, 



AND TO ALL WHO, LIKE THEM, 



HAVE BEEN A COMFORT UNTO ME IN MY TRIBULATIONS, 



| most giffxttionatelg §zVxcutt 



PREFACE 



The reader will find appended to this Address, my letter 
of resignation, and the action of the Payson Church thereon. 
He will also find the doings of the council which installed 
me over said Church. These documents, I think, will deepen 
the interest of every one who shall carefully read the Address. 
As to the note A, in the Appendix — that will speak for 
itself. 

It may be thought by some that certain parts of the dis- 
course are marked by an unbecoming severity, and exhibit 
an unforgiving and censorious spirit. I am aware of the 
difficulty which a preacher finds whenever he attempts to 
rebuke wickedness in high places, and to show to his hearers 
what is as often true in our day as in the time of David, that 
"men of high degree are a lie. ?> This is the difficulty 
which has beset me in preparing and delivering the following 
Address. If anyof my readers should feel disposed to make 
this complaint, I would refer them to the words of the 
greatest and the best of all preachers, " Ye serpents, ye gen- 
eration of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" 
And this he said to the Scribes and Pharisees who were 
officers in the church, and were regarded as the most pious 
and holy men in all the nation. Is this a censurable severity, 
or an exhibition of a bad and vindictive spirit ? I would 
make the same inquiry in relation to Paul when he thus 



VI PREFACE. 

addressed one of his hearers by name — tl full of all sub- 
tlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of 
all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right 
ways of the Lord?" 

These preachers spoke the truth, and spoke it in love, 
though some might deem them harsh and severe. I have 
likewise spoken the truth, and have endeavored to speak it 
in love. Therefore whatever of severity may be found in 
the Address, I am sure it is the severity of truth. And for 
such severity, on such an occasion and under such peculiar 
circumstances, I have no apology to make. 



ADDRESS. 



"For he oet refreshed me, and was not ashamed op my chain." 

2 Tim. i. 16. 

Farewell addresses from the pulpit are not 
uncommon, and on all ordinary occasions the topics 
selected are strikingly similar. But our circum- 
stances, my brethren, are so peculiar, and diverging 
so widely from the usual state of things existing at 
such times, that I feel myself compelled, on your 
account as well as my own, to address you in a 
train of thought which was probably never before 
required of a preacher, or expected by his hearers. 
God grant that it may never be so again ! I regret 
that there should be occasion for such frequent 
reference to ourselves. But I need offer no apology 
to those who have the slightest acquaintance with 
our history, and are willing to listen to a discourse 
naturally suggested not only by our peculiar posi- 
tion, but by my text : " For he oft refreshed me, 
and was not ashamed of my chain." 

On reading the history of Paul we at once per- 
ceive that he was a singular sufferer. He was 
reviled, and persecuted, and traduced, and ridiculed, 



8 

and stoned till his enemies thought that he was 
dead. Thrice was he beaten with rods, and thrice 
he suffered shipwreck. He was in perils in deep 
waters, in perils among robbers, in perils by his 
own countrymen, in perils in the city, in perils in 
the wilderness, in perils by the heathen, and (what 
was worst of all) in perils among false brethren, 
who forsook him and then slandered him. He was in 
prisons frequent, and in deaths oft. On five differ- 
ent occasions he received forty stripes save one. 
The great French preacher, Saurin, after enumer- 
ating this sad catalogue of sufferings, exclaimed, 
"Good God, what a salary for a minister ! — stripes, 
stones, bonds, prisons." But even this is not all. 
On one occasion, more than forty men entered into 
a conspiracy against him, and even took an oath 
that they would neither eat nor drink, till they had 
killed him. And if any friend of Paul had asked 
them, " why do ye these things ? " they would doubt- 
less 'have replied, " we do it for the glory of God 
and the good of the church ; for he is a wicked im- 
postor, deceiving the people ; and it is not fit that 
such a vile wretch should live." 

But, in the midst of all his sufferings, Paul had 
friends who sympathized with him, and whose kind- 
ness and affection he was ever ready to acknowl- 



edge, as in the text : " He oft refreshed me, and was 
not ashamed of my chain." The person to whom 
he particularly alludes here was Onesiphorus. It 
seems that when the Apostle was imprisoned at 
Eome for preaching Christ crucified and proclaim- 
ing his attachment to his cause, Onesiphorus visited 
him, and not only sympathized with him, but fur- 
nished him supplies for his temporal wants. He 
was not ashamed to confess himself the friend of 
Paul, notwithstanding the disgrace under which he 
was suffering by being chained in a prison. He was 
kind to him, not once or twice merely, but often. 
He even sought him out diligently, and would not 
rest till he found him. Such philanthropy — such 
kindness called forth from the Apostle expressions 
of gratitude and affection. He was poor, and in 
prison. He had, therefore, no rewards of a tem- 
poral nature to bestow on his friend. The only 
way in which he could repay him for his kindness 
was by prayer and supplication : " The Lord give 
mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, and grant 
unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in 
that day; for he oft refreshed me, and was not 
ashamed of my chain." 

It strikes me, my brethren, that this story of 
Paul and his friend Onesiphorus is well adapted to 



10 

lead our minds into a train of thought peculiarly 
appropriate to the present occasion. I think it 
will not be travelling far out of the record to say- 
that there is some resemblance, at least, between 
their case and ours. True, I have not been liter- 
ally chained or cast into prison, as Paul was ; but 
you well know that there has been no want of dis- 
position and effort to put me there, and that, too, 
not by the avowed enemies of the gospel, as was 
the case with Paul, but by men of the same profes- 
sion, with whom I once took sweet counsel, and 
walked to the house of God in their company, and 
from whom better things might have been expected. 
And you know equally well (certainly I know it, 
and shall never forget it, or cease to be grateful 
for it) that you have often refreshed me by your 
sympathy, and counsels, and prayers, and " were 
not ashamed of my chain," or afraid of any re- 
proach which might come upon you in consequence 
of your kind assistance and unwavering confidence. 
It is not my design in this address, to go mi- 
nutely into any matters of detail with regard to 
the remarkable incidents of my life. On this point 
nothing could be said with which you are not 
already quite familiar. Neither shall I allow my- 
self to mention the names of persons in an invidi- 



11 

cms manner, because it is not adapted to the occa- 
sion which has brought us together, nor is it 
appropriate to the day and the place. But in 
justice to you as well as to myself, I must allude 
somewhat frequently to certain well-known indi- 
viduals who have been the most prominent in dis- 
turbing our peace, and whom you will find no 
difficulty in recognizing by their portraiture, with- 
out the announcement of names. That painful 
task, which I am happy to avoid to-day, has already 
been done in a volume of nearly five hundred 
pages, the circulation of which is daily increasing 
in the community, and leaving on the minds of all 
candid readers a firm conviction that such an in- 
stance of clerical oppression and persecution is 
rarely found in a Protestant country. The persons 
implicated are there named and challenged to deny 
the statements made. But no one accepts the 
challenge, or calls in question the correctness of the 
narrative. If the adage be ever true that " silence 
gives assent," it is true in this case ; for more pow- 
erful motives to break the silence, if it could be 
safely done, have seldom existed. 

In reference to this volume I have only to 
request that it may be placed in each of your 
families, (if it has not already been done,) and 



12 



retained there, that you and your children and 
your children's children may be effectually taught 
the wisdom and kindness of our Lord in his cau- 
tion to his disciples — "beware of men," and that 
they may learn the safety of trusting in God when- 
ever assailed by the tongue or the pen of calumny, 
with the confident assurance that, in his own good 
time, he will appear for their deliverance, and 
" bring forth their righteousness as the light, and 
their judgment as the noon-day." I am especially 
earnest that you should possess this book, on your 
own account, that" those who come after you may 
see that your course in the matter is not only fully 
vindicated, but really deserving the commendation 
of all good men and good citizens. 

I stated in my letter of resignation, that the 
twenty-second day of November, (which is to-day,) 
would be the completion of thirty years since my 
installation over the Phillips Church, from winch 
this church was gathered; and that the nineteenth 
day of November, (which was last Thursday, 
would complete twelve years since I was installed 
over you * Tor more than eleven years previous 
to these thirty, I held the pastoral charge of a 
large church in Connecticut, so that I am now xn 

* See Appendix, note B. 



13 

the forty-second year of my ministerial and pas- 
toral labors. During the first twenty-five years 
of my ministry, I had perhaps as few trials as it 
usually falls to the lot of a pastor to endure. I 
must, however, except certain difficulties originating 
with my deacons, in 1833, an account of which will 
be found on the fourth page of my book. But in 
1841, having then been in this place about fourteen 
years, I found myself, as did Paul, to be truly " in 
perils among false brethren;" and from that time 
till within the last two years and a half, I have felt 
somewhat as the Apostle felt when fighting with 
wild beasts at Ephesus. 

I choose not to dwell at length on the history 
of that church from which you were gathered, and 
over which I presided for more than fourteen years. 
It is enough for me briefly to allude to what has 
taken place among them, since that memorable time 
when their then deacons, in conjunction with a 
certain member not in office, saw fit to assail me 
in a manner the most cruel and reprehensible.* I 
said to them, more than once, that the curse of 
God would follow them in their connection with 
that church, for such an unjustifiable and outrageous 
act. And that it is so, and has been so from that 

* See my book, p. 4 



14 

day to this, is a matter of public notoriety. Their 
alienations, and contentions, and heart-burnings, and 
divisions, and separations, all go to prove that God 
has frowned upon them. Previously to that time, 
you can hardly name the church more united and 
happy in their pastoi* than that church, or one on 
which God smiled more approvingly, or blessed 
with greater prosperity. 

But now, how changed the scene ! They have 
recently felt themselves obliged to call a council to 
look into their affairs, and determine whether they 
ought to be re-organized or sustained as they now 
are. And that council, after due consideration, 
have unanimously resolved that "that church and 
its officers are worthy of the confidence and love 
of all the churches." Why, the senior members of 
that council had passed that resolution, in sub- 
stance, more than twelve years ago, and have been 
laboring earnestly and unceasingly to fulfil it ever 
since. And what has been the result of their la- 
bors ? One would have thought that their past 
experience might have taught them the folly of re- 
solving " to bless whom the Lord hath not blessed." 
No resolutions of ex parte councils can conceal from 
the public eye the wrongs and injuries done and 
tolerated by the leading members of that church. 



15 

Their history is like the letter spoken of by Paul, 
"open and read of all men." * 

The published narrative of my life exhibited such 
a scene of iniquity on the part of my enemies and 
persecutors as filled the minds of all candid readers 
with amazement and indignation, and constrained 
many of them to give utterance to their feelings in 
such thunder tones of rebuke as completely to si- 
lence the batteries which had been opened upon me 
for twelve long years. The Lord having thus de- 
livered me, as he did David, " out of the paw of 
the lion, and out of the paw of the bear," you can- 
not wonder at my desire to be released from the 
cares and responsibilities of a pastor, and my wish 
to spend the few remaining years which it may 
please God to give me, not indeed in idleness, but 
in a way less trying to my feelings, and less ex- 
hausting to my bodily and mental powers. Espe- 
cially will you cease to wonder at my present 
course, when you consider how remarkably the 
providence of God has prepared the way for my 
resignation at this time, with so much credit to you, 
as well as to myself. And this I would say, not 
boastingly, but with feelings of gratitude to him 

* See Appendix, note A. 



16 

" who hath caused us to triumph in Christ Jesus our 
Lord." 

I have had strong hopes, brethren, from the be- 
ginning, that God would spare my life, and pro- 
long my pastoral relation to you, until the arrival 
of that day when the depth of the conspiracy against 
me would be explored, and the names of the chief 
actors in it would be ascertained, and proclaimed 
to the world. And if any credit is due to the uni- 
versal voice of the press, or to the written and 
verbal declarations of gentlemen standing high in 
the legal, medical, and theological professions, then 
that day has arrived, and we all have seen it j those 
names have been proclaimed, and we all have heard 
them. 

If you ask me whether any change has taken 
place in the views and feelings of the men who 
have so cruelly persecuted and annoyed us, I will 
answer your question by proposing another. Did 
the men who burnt John Rogers at the stake, or 
those who kindled the fires of Smithfield, ever con- 
fess to any change in their opinions ? Did they or 
any of their friends who connived at those deeds 
of horror, ever express regret at what they had 
done, or even admit that they had acted wickedly ? 
Did they not affirm to the end that they were gov- 



17 

erned by the best of motives — even the honor of 
God, and the purity of the church? And who does 
not know that human nature is the same now as 
then ? Who does not know that the conscientious 
stubbornness of persecutors is as unyielding in our 
day, as in the days of the martyrs ? 

My brethren, when we look back on the past 
twelve years, and consider the singular transac- 
tions of that* day which united us as pastor and 
flock, and the many disadvantages under which we 
have since labored; when we call to mind the 
many disgraceful and unheard of means which 
have been employed for our ruin, what a convinc- 
ing and consoling evidence have we of the special 
interposition and care of our heavenly Father, and 
what abundant reason for gratitude and praise ! 
Our relationship had scarcely been formed when 
the prediction went forth from high places that 
this church would become extinct in one year, and 
the doings of the installing council be rendered 
null and void. But behold, what hath God 
wrought? Our connection has been continued, 
not one year only, but twelve. And during this 
period its original number of members (fifty-six) 
has more than doubled, though many have removed 
from us, and some have died. And to say nothing 
2 



18 

of the untoward circumstances just alluded to, how 
rarely has it been known that a religious society, 
under the most favorable auspices, with the sym- 
pathy and assistance of 'surrounding chitrches, has 
been able to retain even a nominal existence for 
twelve years, or one half that length of time, with- 
out an edifice erected expressly for public worship ! 
To commence an enterprise like ours without such 
an edifice is not uncommon ; but the enterprise 
usually fails in less than four years, if no such edi- 
fice is provided, especially if nothing but opposi- 
tion is manifested by neighboring pastors and 
churches. And can you name the church in this 
city, with such a combination against them and 
their pastor as against us, persevered in with un- 
tiring energy and zeal for a decade of years, and 
by means so unscrupulous and reckless, — I ask, 
can you name the church which would probably 
have been able to contend more successfully than 
we have done against such fearful odds, against 
the combined influence of wealth, and sophistry, 
and malice, and duplicity, and falsehood, and fraud, 
and perjury, and bribery, — -yes, bribery, thrice 
resorted to, five hundred dollars being promised 
in the first case, two hundred in the second, and 
an indefinite sum in the third, or, as expressed in 



19 

the language of him who offered the bribe, " You 
shall be handsomely remunerated, for there is 
plenty of money in the bank;" referring to an 
officer in a certain bank, who, as he said, sent 
him.* Yes, brethren, all these strange and wick- 
ed doings have been brought to bear against us 
with tremendous power. Verily, "if it had not 
been the Lord who was on our side when men 
rose up against us, then had they swallowed us up 
quick. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given 
us a prey to their teeth." 

And then with what gratitude should sve remem- 
ber those noble and trusty men — members of the 
installing council — who were not afraid or ashamed 
to appear openly in our defence, and gave us their 
aid and influence in our time of needlt And 
among them all, no one stood forth more conspicu- 
ously than that venerable and venerated man of 
6od,J that learned and devoted minister of Christ, 
who for forty years was at the head of our Theo- 
logical Seminary, and universally regarded as the 
ablest and most beloved and influential clergyman 
of our denomination, and who continued to us his 
confidence and affection till the day of his death. 

* See my book, pages 41-45, 351. 

t See Appendix, note C. . J Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. 



20 

We shall never forget his appearance or his ser- 
mon on that occasion. Nor shall we forget with 
what grief and righteous indignation he received 
the message sent him by the inveterate disturber 
of our peace, that if he preached the sermon, or 
took any part in the doings of that council, " his 
well-earned reputation as first among the Orthodox 
clergy of New England would suffer;" as though 
a motive like this, so sordid and selfish, could 
reach that good man's heart, and cause him to 
swerve from the discharge of a duty which, after 
many prayers to God for direction, his own con- 
science told him he owed to me, his injured and 
persecuted brother, and to you, my faithful and 
confiding friends. And there are other gentle- 
men who were connected with that council, both 
among the living and the dead, standing high in 
the affection and confidence of the churches, whom 
we remember with gratitude, and bless God for 
their assistance and sympathy at a time when both 
were so much needed. But four of them are rest- 
ing from their labors, and their good works are 
following them. The moderator,* the preacher, t 
and he who gave the charge, J are no more with 

* Rev. Joseph Bennett. t Rev. Dr. Woods. 

i Rev. Jonathan French. D. D. 



21 

us. And my college classmate, who had been inti- 
mate with me for more than forty years, and long 
a well-known and much-respected resident of this 
city, was also a member of the council. * But he 
too has since finished his course, and entered into 
rest. Those members who survive are affection- 
ately remembered by us, and especially that much- 
beloved brother who extended to me the right hand 
of fellowship^ and who well understood what is 
implied in that significant and pleasing service, who 
has since "oft refreshed me, and has not been 
ashamed of my chain. " 

I come now to speak of another class of clergy- 
men, who have acted a part towards us widely dif- 
ferent from that to which I have just adverted. 
And here, brethren, I feel my conscious need of 
"the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness 
of the dove," lest I overstep the bounds of Chris- 
tian moderation and calm discretion. This, I con- 
fess, is the most difficult and painful part of my 
address ; and I would gladly pass it over in silence, 
if fidelity to you and myself, and the outraged 
cause of humanity and religion did not forbid me. 
And my regret at referring to these clerical gentle- 
men does not spring so much from the deep wrong 

* Rev. Louis D wight. f Rev. Ebenezer Burgess, D. D, 



22 

they have clone me and my friends, as from the 
lasting reproach which they have brought upon the 
Christian ministry, especially upon those of our 
denomination, and the serious injury they have 
done to the souls of men. Though I have suffered 
from these brethren calamities which I cannot de- 
scribe, and encountered obstacles the most appal- 
ling, thrown by them in the pathway of my pro- 
fession, and been compelled to sacrifice all my 
earthly substance to defend myself from their un- 
righteous and pertinacious attacks, still I honestly 
declare to you that none of these things, nor all 
of them combined, are so trying to my feelings, or 
so grievous to be borne, as the injuries they have 
inflicted on that sacred cause which we regard as 
dearer than life. The gay and thoughtless look on 
with pleasure, and they jeer and scoff. The infidel 
and the sceptic look on with delight, and are con- 
firmed in their infidelity and scepticism. Plain, 
honest-hearted Christians in the common walks of 
life look on, and they sigh and weep. And when 
we attempt to apologize to those who ask for an 
explanation of such conduct, our mouths are shut, 
or we speak to no purpose. We may tell them of 
the infirmities of men, — that the best are liable to 
err, — that clergymen are not perfect, and that we 



23 

must exercise charity. But this will not satisfy 
them. If they admit all that we say, yet they do 
not see its application to the present case. They 
will say, Here are clergymen deserting an accused 
brother, whom they had solemnly promised to stand 
by and defend, till proved guilty of crime, — de- 
serting him even before his trial, and doing all 
they can when on trial to convict him ; and when 
they fail, through the acknowledged incompetency 
of the tribunal, then, with great apparent kindness 
and affection, they assure this brother that if he 
will come to the tribunal which is competent to do 
justice in the premises, and is by that tribunal ac- 
quitted, "they will haste, with unutterable joy," to 
extend to him the hand of fellowship, and " reckon 
him again among the faithful ministers of Jesus." 
Being thus assured, he voluntarily presents him- 
self to' this very tribunal, is by them thoroughly 
tried, and pronounced " not guilty," the judge and 
the public press concurring with the jury in the 
verdict, as a righteous one. This injured and 
calumniated brother, being thus relieved, though 
at great expense, looks around for those brethren 
who had made such kind promises, expecting them 
."to haste with unutterable joy "to fulfil their prom- 
ises and redeem their pledges. But, alas ! he looks 



24 

and waits in vain. Where he expected to find 
truthfulness and honesty, he finds deception and 
treachery, just as it was in the days of the prophet, 
when he said to the people, " Trust ye not in any 
brother, for every brother will utterly supplant." 
And when you, my brethren and friends, who had 
known this clergyman for years, invite him, after 
his honorable acquittal, to become your pastor, 
then behold, these same clergymen, who had given 
such assurances of sympathy, send a remonstrance 
to the installing council, protesting against their 
recognizing that brother as a minister of Christ, 
declaring that "it will be impossible for them," (I 
quote their own words, written by the hand of 
him who had taken the lead in this conspiracy,) 
"it will be impossible for them to give him," 
(meaning me,) " or to any church that may employ 
him," (meaning you,) "their ministerial fellow- 
ship." Yes, impossible is the word. And yet the 
very same doctor in divinity who wrote this papal 
bull, and three other doctors whom he prevailed 
on to sign it with him, did afterwards read letters 
missive to their churches for the appointment of 
delegates to become members of an ex jtarte coun- 
cil to sit in judgment on our affairs, thereby ac- 
knowledging you as a sister church, and myself as 



25 

your pastor; for surely they would never have 
presumed to adjudicate in the affairs of a Baptist 
church, or Unitarian church, or any other church 
with which they were not in fellowship. And why 
this acknowledgment just then, and never, after- 
wards ? Because they designed, by the action of 
that council, so unrighteously called and so un- 
fairly composed, to silence me as your pastor, and 
leave you as sheep having no shepherd. These 
gentlemen seem to have acted on the principle so 
sternly rebuked and fearlessly condemned by Paul : 
" Let us do evil, that good may come." ; But God 
interposed in our behalf. In the appropriate lan- 
guage of Scripture, " He put a hook in their nose 
and a bridle in their jaws. He broke the snare 
of the fowlers, and we escaped. " 

These, my brethren, are sad statements indeed, 
and I am truly sorry for the occasion of them ; but 
when men standing high in the church, as high as 
did the Scribes and Pharisees, the Priests and 
Levites, the Rulers and Elders of old, — when 
such men will do wrong, and persist in the wrong 
for many, many years, in spite of the decisions of 
courts and councils, — a wrong designed to rob a 
brother of that priceless jewel, a good name, and 
a church of the pastor whom they love, though it 



26 

may be done under the most sanctimonious forms, 

and with the most solemn protestations that in all 

this there is no unkind feeling, no hatred, no vin- 

dictiveness, and nothing but love and good will, 

and a holy regard for the purity and honor of the 

ministry, — I say when men standing high in the 

church will do this, it is right that they should be 

exposed, that others may be on their guard, and 

take heed to the caution of qur Lord, " Beware 

of men." However unpleasant it may be to make 

the disclosure, it is due to the ministry, to the 

church, and to the world. All are taught by it to 

I 
watch against the encroachment and tyranny of 

ecclesiastical domination, as well in the Protestant 
as in the Romish church. 

That the innocent may not be involved with the 
guilty, I will here state that the clergymen who 
have acted in a manner so inconsistent with their 
profession, and in a spirit so persecuting and vin- 
dictive, are few in number, residing chiefly in Bos- 
ton and vicinity. Indeed, had it not been for two 
doctors in divinity, whom I need not name, our 
overwhelming troubles would never have been 
known, and that heavy load of reproach which has 
fallen on themselves and their apologizing friends 
would never have been felt. One of these gentle- 



27 

men has removed to the far West, and will proba- 
bly never again be located in this region. And if 
the other would remove as far South, whither his 
proclivities evidently incline him, the hearts of 
many good people in our churches would no longer 
be pained at hearing a clergyman preach in whom 
they have so little confidence, and for whom they 
feel so little respect. 

And lest I should be deemed uncharitable in 
saying this, or accused of giving vent to some 
private pique, I will here quote a single sentence 
from a religious paper published near us, and one 
of the organs of our denomination. The editor, in 
speaking of the clergyman to whom I refer says, 
" It is a fact that many and many a congregation in 
New England would feel it to be a calamity and 
grief to see him ascending their pulpit stairs." 
Although the editor when he thus wrote had no 
reference to us, but to the publication of a book 
by that gentleman which he regarded as pernicious 
in its tendency, yet there are multitudes in the 
many congregations of New England who do, in- 
deed, deem it a calamity and grief to see a man 
ascending their pulpit stairs who is extensively 
known to have called a brother clergyman — "hell" 
— against whom no crime had been proved, being 



28 

simply accused; who had denounced him as "an 
unscrupulous man;" as a man who "had ceased 
to discriminate between truth and falsehood " 
— "as worse than the infamous Aaron Burr/' 
and " bad enough to go out of the world with a 
lie upon his lips." And yet, after saying all this, 
and professing to believe it all, he writes the 
kindest and most affectionate letter to this same 
clergyman whom he had thus, denounced, calling 
him " My dear, dear brother," and assuring him, (I 
quote his own words,) "I feel prepared to do or 
suffer any thing for you, in any event. However you 
may prove to have acted, right or wrong, the feel- 
ing which will ever govern every other, will be that 
of tender sympathy, weeping for your injuries, if 
you prove to be innocent, or weeping at your fall." 
And, as though this assurance were not sufficiently 
affectionate and winning, he soon sends him a kind 
message with the alluring promise that if he will 
surrender himself to be tried by a jury of his peers, 
and is by them acquitted, he will be the first to 
invite him into his pulpit, and by this act publicly 
declare that he does indeed regard him as his 
" dear, dear brother," and that " the feeling, which 
governs every other, is indeed that of tender sym- 
pathy ;" and then utterly refusing to fulfil his prom- 



29 

ise. Who, I ask, can wonder that Christian men 
and women should regret to see a clergyman 
ascending their pulpit stairs, who has acted in a 
manner so deceptive, and so unbecoming his sacred 
profession, and who, to this day, has made no 
apology for what he has done, but, (if I am cor- 
rectly informed,) still justifies his conduct, as 
though he had done nothing amiss ? 

I come now to a more pleasing side of the pic- 
ture. The great body of the Congregational pas- 
tors in New England have treated us, so far as 
they have had an opportunity, with Christian kind- 
ness and courtesy. True, some of them have 
seemed not to trouble themselves so much about 
what was right in the case, as about what was 
expedient — as though it was not always both right 
and expedient to do as they would be done by.* 

* I am aware that there are clergymen who have said that it was 
inexpedient for me ever to enter the pulpit after I was accused, and 
equally inexpedient even after my honorable acquittal, lest the ministry 
should svffer reproach, — thus adopting a principle which, if universally 
acted upon might expose every faithful minister in the land to the loss 
of his office, by putting it into the power of a few disaffected men, who 
should combine to drive him from the pulpit by bribing some lying 
wanton to testify against him, — a principle which virtually says that 
a clergyman accused of crime, though triumphantly acquitted by 
court and council, has forfeited his rights, not indeed as a citizen, but 
only as a clergyman, as though his rights were not his rights in the one 
capacity as truly as in the other. Such clergymen, in their opinions 



30 

But most of them have acted towards us as Chris- 
tian ministers should act. They have been ready, 
when requested, to give letters of recommendation 
to membership with us. More than fifty clergymen 
of the denomination have expressed their sympathy, 
either by an exchange of pulpits, or by preaching 
gratuitously for us on the Sabbath,. or by inviting 
me to preach for them. Especially is it a bright 
side of the picture to notice those younger breth- 
ren in the ministry, who were ready to exchange 
with me, having the independence to do right with- 
out asking leave of those Metropolitan clergymen 
who had fixed their ban upon us, and cast out our 
names as evil. It was truly refreshing to my heart 
to be thus assured of the affection and regard of 
these brethren, and that they " were not ashamed 
of my chain." 

In reference to the other denominations of Chris- 

and feelings very much resemble Job when he said, in his prosperity, 
" I shall die in my nest." But let a reverse of circumstances take 
place — let them be accused, and tried, and acquitted, and there will 
soon be quite a reverse in their opinions and feelings. I surely do not 
wish any such calamity to befall them; but if it should so happen, cer- 
tain I am that their views of the doctrine of expediency would be sud- 
denly and thoroughly changed, and they would wonder how they could 
ever have indulged views so erroneous, and of such pernicious tend- 
ency. They would furthermore soon deem it far more inexpedient to 
tolerate those men in the church and ministry who thus pursued them, 
than it would be for them to re-enter the pulpit. 



31 

tians in our immediate vicinity, 1 would say that, as 
neighbors and friends, they have treated me with 
respect and kindness. I know not that I have an 
enemy among them all. This is especially true of 
our Methodist brethren, whose pftlpit was the first I 
entered after being liberated from my "chain." 
And in all my travels abroad, the Methodist clergy 
are ever ready to welcome me to their pulpits. 

There is another bright side to the picture. If 
you will cast your eye over the more than eight 
hundred names of gentlemen appended to my book, 
who have contributed to aid us in the erection of a 
church edifice, you will find among them the most 
respectable and influential men of all denominations 
in religion, many of whom gave their names avow- 
edly for the purpose of letting it be known that 
their sympathies were with us, and that they were 
desirous of bearing public testimony against perse- 
cution. And had it not been for these times of un- 
paralleled depression and embarrassment among 
our merchants and men of business, I am confident 
that these gentlemen would have enabled us to 
carry our enterprise to a successful issue. If it be 
ever lawful for a man to be proud, I must say that 
I am proud of such a list of names. To feel as- 
sured that such men "were not ashamed of my 



32 

chain," was then, is now, and ever will be truly re- 
freshing to my soul. And from the conduct and 
conversation of these gentlemen, I have learned a 
lesson which I shall never forget. I have learned 
to think little of *human creeds, and to query with 
myself whether it might not have been as well for 
the church, and far better for the world, if there 
had never been any creed but the Bible. I have 
learned that denominational distinctions are of little 
consequence — that the only safe criterion by which 
we are to determine the Christian character of any 
people, is by their works — that wherever we see 
the fruits of religion, we may safely infer that re- 
ligion is there — that Christians may differ as wide- 
ly in their doctrinal views as in their personal ap- 
pearance, and yet be Christians still- — and that 
while I claim the privilege and the right of think- 
ing for myself, I am led most cheerfully to grant 
the same to others. And I must say, that if I ever 
had any bigotry or sectarian feeling, it is all gone, 
never to return. It used to be said of me some 
years ago, that my orthodoxy had a few sharp cor- 
ners. Be this as it may, I must confess that while 
I still adhere to my orthodoxy, yet, if those sharp 
corners ever existed, the mill through which I have 
passed has ground them off so effectually, that I 



83 

can extend the hand and the feeling of charity to 
those of a different creed. Within a few years 
past, I have come in frequent contact with many 
professors of other denominations, who were as 
kind, and charitable, and prayerful, and apparently 
as upright and holy as I have ever known. And if 
I should he so happy as to reach heaven at last, I 
expect to meet them there. This is particularly 
true of their pastors. They have generally shown 
themselves to be kind-hearted and sympathetic men. 
And I do honestly believe that the clergy of no 
other denomination in the land would ever have 
treated a brother in like circumstances, as a por- 
tion of my brethren have treated me, being the first 
to denounce and forsake him before his trial, and 
the last to embrace and defend him after his acquit- 
tal. Whatever of honor or disgrace may attach to 
this conduct, the orthodox clergy must take it all. 
Yet these same gentlemen will tell you that they 
are bound to regard every accused brother as 
innocent until guilt is proved. Have they acted on 
this principle, which is in perfect harmony with the 
laws of God and man ? They will tell you, too, 
that when an accused brother has been tried and 
pronounced innocent by the only earthly tribunal 
competent to sit in judgment ojx his case, they are 
3 



34 

then under special obligations to come around him, 
and give him their sympathy and assistance more 
readily than ever, because, having passed through 
scenes of suffering and sorrow wholly undeserved, 
duty requires them to say to him, " Come, brother, 
cheer up. We have come to give thee our hands 
and our hearts." Have they done so ? Nothing 
like it. And yet the very men, (can you believe 
it ?) the very men who have been leaders in this in- 
glorious enterprise, or connivers at it, are great 
sticklers for orthodoxy, and appear to be very much 
alarmed lest some of their brethren should be de- 
parting from the faith of the Puritan fathers, — lest 
they should be laboring, in some covert way, to 
bring into the churches " damnable heresies," as 
though what they call a sound creed, was of greater 
importance than sound practice, — as though faith 
in certain doctrines would ensure a man's salvation, 
without much regard to the works of love and fruits 
of holiness, so frequently and solemnly enjoined in 
the gospel. 

Perhaps I ought here to state that this strange 
procedure is owing, in part at least, to our ecclesi- 
astical polity. The Congregationalism of Massa- 
chusetts may have its excellencies; but that it has 
also its s&d defects, oiir history has strikingly mani- 



35 

fested. It will do very well when all is peaceful 
and calm ; but in a storm, when the wind blows and 
the waves run high, it is little better than an ark of 
bulrushes. If pastors and churches were always dis- 
posed to do right, then Congregationalism would be 
all that is necessary. And so, if our legislators were 
all good men, thinking right and acting right, then 
we might dispense with the senate and the execu- 
tive, and safely leave our affairs of government to 
the house of representatives alone. But legislators 
do not always think alike, or act in harmony; but 
will sometimes enter into fierce contention; and, 
under the influence of passion, or prejudice, or self- 
interest, or party spirit, might enact laws very un- 
just and oppressive, if they were not checked by 
the senate, or the senate might concur with the 
house and pass such laws, were it not for the veto 
of the executive. And just so it is at times with 
pastors and delegates. They are not always the 
most dove-like in their doings. They sometimes 
get angry, and act very wickedly, (though of course 
very conscientiously,) and commit a grievous out- 
rage on the feelings, and rights, and reputation of a 
brother, and it may be, suspend or even depose 
him from his office ; but he has no redress — no 
ecclesiastical court of appeal, as in the Presbyterian, 



36 

and Methodist, and Episcopal churches, where the 
wrong can be righted, and the injured brother vin- 
dicated and restored. 

And if this be true of our ecclesiastical councils, 
how much more distressing is the case as some- 
times exhibited by pastors in their associations ? 
Let me give you a single instance, which, as you 
know and I know to my sorrow, has actually taken 
place. Here is a clerical association, without any 
authority whatever, either ecclesiastical or civil, 
deliberately and falsely inserting in their book of 
records that one of their number has been proved 
guilty of three infamous crimes, and on that ground 
and no other, expelling him from their body, thus 
branding his name with infamy by their false record, 
knowing it to be false, but utterly refusing to alter 
it in conformity with the truth. But, as there is 
no ecclesiastical tribunal before which they can be 
summoned for trial, they escape unscathed. They 
can do an act over which good men grieve and 
devils rejoice, without responsibility to any ecclesi- 
astical court whatever. True, they did at last 
rescind their libellous record when they saw that, 
if longer retained, they must meet the case in the 
civil court acknowledging by this very act that 
they had borne false witness against this brother 



37 

for more than ten years. And then, to cap the 
climax of wrong, they immediately resolve to expel 
this brother again from their body, when he had 
not been a member for years, and had repeatedly 
assured them that he never would be a member. 
Yes, after rescinding these ten years' falsehoods, 
through fear of the civil law and not the law of 
God, they still go on to discharge their bile on one 
whom they had already injured beyond their power 
of reparation. What a sad comment on the reli- 
gion of love and good will which they profess and 
teach ! Why, the inquisition itself could hardly 
have done more or worse that this. 0, who can 
wonder that the clerical profession should have lost 
its wonted hold on the confidence of the commu- 
nity, after such an exhibition of its unmanliness 
and trickery ? And who can wonder that infidelity 
is so rife among the people, when they witness such 
strange proceedings, so abhorrent to the views and 
feelings of every honest man among them ? 

Can you blame me, then, when I say not only 
"beware of men," but beware of ministe?*s? Re- 
spect and love them so long as they confine them- 
selves to the appropriate duties of their office ; but 
when they leave their proper sphere of action, and 
claim the exercise of authority not belonging to 



38 

them, — when they trample under foot the solemn 
decisions of our civil courts, and set up their own 
irresponsible opinions as paramount to the opinions 
of judges and juries acting under the awful sanc- 
tions of an oath, — when they attempt "to lord it 
over God's heritage," instead of ruling the people 
in a spirit of love and kindness, — when they 
assume the power and dictation of popes, with a 
determination to " crush out " and victimize the 
clergyman who thinks for himself and is too inde- 
pendent to call any man master, — of such minis- 
ters (and, unhappily, there are such) marvel not 
that I repeat it — beware ! * 

* I will here state a fact with which most of my readers are familiar, 
— that the leader in the matter of that false and libellous record was 
summoned to appear before a jury of his country to answer for his 
offence, and that I very unwisely consented to submit the case to the 
judgment of three referees, who decided that Dr. Nehemiah Adams, 
the chief offender, was privileged not only to write but to utter slander 
against me in the worst possible form. His plea, by his counsel, was 
that he did it all for the glory of God, and that his only motive was to 
keep the ministry pure. This is the battery behind which he sought to 
shelter himself and ruin me. Such an apology is a gross aggravation 
of the offence, and an insult to that religion which it pretends to vindi- 
cate and honor. Even in Old Testament times, Jeremiah under the law 
had made greater progress than Neliemiah under the gospel; for the old 
prophet did not let off transgressors who attempted to shelter themselves 
from the penalties which attach to their conduct by exclaiming, " The 
temple of the Lord — the temple of the Lord are we! " Nor was he 



39 



The day for the clergy to claim deference and 
respect on account of their official station or hon- 
orary titles is past. Whatever honor and influence 
they may deserve on account of their virtues and 
talents will be most cheerfully accorded to them ; 
but if they expect that their profession or titles 
will raise them in public esteem, without real 
merit, or that they shall succeed in exalting them- 
selves by depreciating and vilifying their brethren, 
they will, in the end, be sadly disappointed. Cler- 
gymen, like other professional gentlemen, must 
henceforth stand or fall on their own merits. 

I must say a few words, in this connection, with 
regard to the calling of ecclesiastical councils. In 
a case of difficulty in a church, requiring advice as 
to the discipline or exclusion of a member, or any 
other matter where no important interests are in- 
volved, it may be well enough to call a council ; 
but where the case is one coming directly under 
the cognizance of the civil law, I would say, let the 
civil law decide it ; for if our civil courts fail to do 
justice in the premises, it will be folly to expect it 
from ecclesiastical councils. On this point I will 

more indulgent to those claiming exemption from punishment with the 
salvo, " We are delivered," that is, privileged, " to do all these abomina- 
tions." 



40 

take the liberty of quoting the words of one who, 
by common consent, was the ablest jurist in the 
country, — words which I had from his own lips.* 
Said he to me, "A person placed in circumstances 
like yours should have nothing to do with ecclesi- 
astical councils. They are the last body of men 
on earth, however wise and honest, to sit in judg- 
ment on such a case. Their education, their hab- 
its, their profession, are all unfavorable to the 
exercise of that discrimination so essential to the 
right understanding, and thorough sifting, and safe 
application of human testimony.' ' This, brethren, 
is sound advice, confirmed by observation and ex- 
perience ; and I cannot but indulge the hope that 
the time will soon come when clergymen will 
utterly refuse to sit in council where they are 
both judges and jurors, in any case of alleged 
crime cognizable by the civil law. But if they 
must sit in judgment on such a case, they will 
show "their wisdom by not coming to a verdict of 
condemnation on the ground of impressions, but 
fads, — never allowing themselves to be swayed 
in their judgment by prejudice or one-sided testi- 
mony, but by evidence clear and incontrovertible. 
And, above all, let them never commit themselves 

* Daniel Webster. 



41 

against an accused brother before he is tried ; for 
it was this hasty committal; and a pertinacious 
refusal to retract, which has been the chief source 
of all our difficulties. And, brethren, there has 
been no retraction to this day, and no regret ex- 
pressed, — a fact which the wise and good regard 
with grief and wonder. And if there had been 
this retraction and regret, I should have been 
spared the painful necessity of uttering, and you 
the painful necessity of hearing, a large portion 
of this address ; for when Christian men have made 
gospel reparation for the wrongs and wounds they 
have inflicted, to recapitulate those wrongs and 
open afresh those wounds is inexcusable, and by 
me would never have been done. This retraction 
would have saved both them and us much vexa- 
tious controversy, the church and the ministry much 
disgrace and reproach, and have caused all our 
troubles to be buried in the grave of oblivion 
years ago. 

In glancing again at the bright side of the pic- 
ture, how much, my friends, do we owe to the pub- 
lic press, which has always been with us, when 
men of wealth and influence were plotting and 
planning our destruction ! If it had been other- 
wise, — if the editors of the various papers, polit- 



42 

ical and religious, had been against us, where should 
we have been ? To these editors I confess I owe 
a debt of gratitude which I can never pay; for, 
under God, I am as much, perhaps more indebted 
to these gentlemen for deliverance from "nay chain" 
than to any other cause whatever. In my poverty, 
occasioned by my vindictive pursuers, I can do no 
more than thank them for their independence and 
kindness, and pray God to reward them with abun- 
dant blessings. 

But the brightest side of the picture is still to 
be presented. In the letter which you sent me, 
after I was liberated from " my chain," inviting 
me to become your pastor, you said, " Come back 
again to your brethren and sisters in Jesus, doubly 
endeared to many of them on account of your in- 
strumentality in bringing them to the Lamb of 
God. Come back to us, and we are ready to wel- 
come you with our whole hearts. 0, it was cruel 
in your enemies to hunt you like a partridge on 
the mountains — to drive you to the verge of dis- 
traction ! Come back, and may the God of heaven 
bless both you and us ! " The hand of our brother 
who wrote this letter, and to whom we were so 
much indebted for his efficient aid, lies buried in 



43 

the dust; but the soul which indited it we trust 
has gone to heaven. 

The kind feeling here expressed has been con- 
tinued without diminution, till this day. As I said 
to you in my letter of resignation,* " our relation- 
ship during these twelve years, has been one of the 
utmost harmony and brotherly affection. A kind 
Providence has not permitted any thing to take 
place among ourselves, to trouble us or even to 
indicate a want of mutual love and confidence." 
And in confirmation of this statement, I will here 
quote a single paragraph from the document which 
the clerk of the church, by your direction, has put 
into my hands, in reply to the above letter. You 
there say, " As we have labored together with per- 
fect harmony and with mutual sympathy under 
severe trials, we cannot separate from our beloved 
pastor without some expression of our sorrow. 
This, however, is mingled with thanksgiving to God 
that this separation does not take place until he 
has fully vindicated himself from the vile asper- 
sions cast upon him, and has come forth from the 
furnace without the smell of fire on his robes. 
Our best wishes will go with him, and our prayers 
ascend for his continued health and usefulness." 

* See Appendix, note B. 



44 

I thank you for these kind expressions, and bless 
God for raising me up such friends ; and as I said 
in my first sermon to you, (and if true then, it surely 
is not less true now,) " friends who have clung 
to me with a love so firm, so constant, so ardent, 
so true ; friends who have stood by me in my 
trials and persecutions, while others forsook me, 
and joined hands, and hearts, and heads, and pens, 
and tongues against me." 0, how often have I 
had occasion to reflect, (though not in reference to 
you,) on that old, but true proverb of Solomon: 
"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble 
is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint," it 
being impossible to eat with the one or walk with 
the other ! We have known nothing of alienation 
or distrust. Our experience has indeed taught us 
" how good and how pleasant a thing it is for 
brethren to dwell together in unity." But the 
time has now come when we must separate ; but 
only as pastor and flock — as minister and people. 
For I design still to reside among you. And let 
me here say to you that if hereafter you need my 
counsel or services as a clergyman in times of 
sickness and affliction you may call on me with the 
utmost freedom. I do not intend ever again to 
assume the pastoral charge of any church. As I 



45 

said at the beginning, having held the pastoral 
office for more than forty years, I feel that I am 
now justified in seeking a release from its respon- 
sibilities and cares. I shall be willing to preach 
so long as God gives me health and strength ; for 
this is my much-loved employment. And should 
any church wish me to supply them a few Sab- 
baths, or any brother desire me to assist him as a 
labor of love, I will do so most readily. 

There is one thing, brethren, in our affairs on 
which we may always look back with satisfaction ; 
we have never been the aggressors — have never com- 
menced an attack on any one. We have only 
defended ourselves from the attacks of others. 
And we have abstained from this defence until 
forced to make it, or cease to claim the character 
and reputation of Christians. And the wisest and 
best men in the community, who had no particular 
sympathy with us, but simply looked on as disin- 
terested spectators, have declared with perfect 
unanimity, after making themselves acquainted with 
the facts, that we have accomplished a most diffi- 
cult work — a work which neither law, logic, nor 
gospel required us to do — have proved our own 
innocence. This, brethren, should be with us a 
matter of joy and rejoicing; for our case will be 



46 

referred to by those who come after us to the latest 
posterity; so that our memory will not suffer, nor 
our descendants blush at the mention of our names. 
You will hardly expect me to give you any advice 
as to your future course. I am glad to see in the 
document just referred to, that you are resolved not 
to give up at present your organization as a church. 
You will do well to wait and watch the indications 
of Providence. But wherever your future lot may 
be cast, I trust you will not forget that the vows of 
God are upon you. Ever act consistently with your 
high and holy calling. Never tarnish your reputa- 
tion, or bring disgrace on your sacred profession by 
any conduct or conversation unbecoming the gospel. 
I have endeavored faithfully to point out your duty, 
— to teach and confirm you in the faith and prac- 
tice of Christianity, — to exhort you to live so holily 
and unblameably — so justly and truthfully, that if 
others will speak ill of you, they shall be compelled 
to speak it falsely. Continue to live and love as 
brethren, that the God of peace may be with you. 
Your earthly course, as well as mine, will soon be 
finished, and our accounts sealed up unto the judg- 
ment of the great day. And may we all meet at 
last in the kingdom of our Father, where we shall 
u shine together as the brightness of the firmament, 
and as the stars forever and ever." 



47 

I have a few words to say to those who make no 
pretension to religion, and may possibly feel dis- 
gusted with " regard to the whole subject, because of 
the inconsistent conduct of certain clergymen and 
laymen, as depicted in this Address. But, my 
friends, be not hasty in your judgment. You do 
not deem that there is no honesty among merchants 
because some are swindlers. Consider the matter 
calmly and deliberately before you decide. Let 
not the equivocations and duplicity and treachery 
of these men infuse into your minds any doubts as 
to the reality and importance of religion. For it 
is a glorious reality — it is infinitely important. 
Think of the multitude of clergymen to whom I 
alluded under the bright side of the picture, who 
have adorned their profession, and acted on the 
principles of their holy religion. Let the conduct 
of these men banish from your minds every feeling 
and thought of scepticism, and constrain you to 
believe and embrace that religion which is the true 
ornament and glory of man in this life, and assures 
him of immortal happiness in the life to come. 

To you who have attended constantly on my min- 
istry, I can truly say that your treatment of me has 
been all that I could desire. But how have you 
treated my blessed Lord and Master, whom I have 



48 

so frequently urged on your belief and acceptance ? 
You can bear witness that I have declared unto you 
the whole counsel of God, and have kept nothing back 
which might lead you to Christ, and through him to 
heaven. You can bear witness that I have often 
warned you of your danger, and entreated you with 
tears to be reconciled to God. But my voice of 
warning and entreaty you will hear no more. My 
last message to you is — " repent and be converted, 
that your sins may be blotted out." 

And now, beloved brethren and friends, as your 
pastor and teacher — not as your neighbor and fel- 
low-citizen — I would say to all of you most affec- 
tionately — farewell — and especially to those who 
have oft refreshed me, and were not ashamed of my 
chain. 



At the commencement of the services, the follow- 
ing psalm was sung : 

" My spirit looks to God alone ; 
My rock and refuge is his throne ; 
In all my fears, in all my straits, 
My soul for his salvation waits. 

" Trust him, ye saints, in all your ways ; 
Pour out your hearts before his face ; 
When helpers fail, and foes invade, 
God is our all-sufficient aid." 



APPENDIX. 



NOTE A. 



It has been intimated to me that the preceding remarks in 
reference to the Phillips Church were rather severe, and 
might as well have been omitted. I must therefore subjoin 
this note, by way of explanation. # 

In the original draft of my Address I had scarcely alluded 
to that Church at all, and had determined to say as little 
about them as possible ; but when the result of the late 
ecclesiastical council was published, in which it is said " that 
the Phillips Church and Society are laboring under the im- 
pression that certain untoward events in their past history, 
beyond their control, have operated and may still operate 
unfavorably to their continuance as a church and society 
under their present organization/' I then felt in duty bound 
to defend myself from this new attack. The elder members 
of that council well knew that the deacons were suffering in 
public esteem on account of their past transactions in relation 

* In speaking of the officers of the Phillips Church, I wish it to be 
distinctly understood that I refer to those who were in office at the time 
of my dismissal from the pastorship of that church. I should be sorry 
to implicate one of the present deacons, who is a worthy gentleman, 
and, for aught I know to the contrary, deserving " the confidence and 
love of all the churches. 1 ' Neither do I mean to censure all the mem- 
bers of that church; for I know that some of them (at least before the 
late secession) were friendly to me, and ready to admit that I had been 
unkindly treated. I mean those only who have sympathized with the 
deacons, and justified their unchristian conduct. 

4 



50 

to me ; and in order to exonerate them from all blame in 
this matter, they virtually tell the world in their result that 
the officers of the Phillips Church had no control oyer those 
untoward events in their history, and thus, in a covert way, 
throw at me another poisoned arrow ; for surely, if they were 
not to blame for those untoward events, then great blame, as 
well as much reproach, must justly fall on me. 

This is the reason, and the only reason, for my alluding to 
them in the manner complained of. And this I believe 
every candid and unprejudiced mind in the community will 
say was a justifiable reason. And the truth compels me 
here to state, in relation to a part of " those untoward events 
over which the officers of the Phillips Church had no control/' 
that the senior clerical member of that council had sat 
in judgment as a referee, and had said, u after a severe and 
thorough scrutiny," that " there was not even the shadow of 
a shade against brother Fairchild," and had written the fol- 
lowing declaration, to which he and his brother referees ap- 
pended their names: "Nothing has appeared in any part of 
his life which prevents us from according to him our full 
confidence as a minister of Christ," and he then thought 
that the deacons had so much " control over those untoward 
events," as justly to subject themselves to the discipline of 
the Phillips Church, and fully to justify sister churches in 
withdrawing* fellowship from said church, if they declined 
this act of discipline. Such was his opinion then; but now 
he says that they had no control at all " over those untoward 
events," and that they are " worthy of the continued confi- 
dence and love of all the churches." Here, then, is a result 
of council, exonerating those men from all blame or censure, 
as though they " had no control over such untoward events " 
as watching their pastor from skylights, and behind window 
blinds, and signing an obligation to pay fifty dollars a year 



51 



for ten years to my accuser, "if she would adhere to her 
first story," and obtain my conviction; as though the senior 
deacon of the Phillips Church had no control over himself or 
his pen when he appended his name to that false and scur- 
rilous pamphlet, the " Medical Fact," the materials for 
which were furnished by the leading clerical member of the 
late council, whose result says that those men who did this, 
and of course those who aided them in doing it, or tolerated 
them afterwards, " are worthy of the confidence and love of 
allthe churches! I" 

And who aided the council in this result, aside from Dr. 
Adams ? Rev. J. W. Alvord and Rev. William W. Pat- 
ton. The former of these gentlemen was a member of that 
council, and was once pastor of the Phillips Church, and 
was scribe of the Suffolk South Association at the time 
when I made application, as I was directed by my counsel, 
Judge Curtis, for a copy of that part of their records which 
related to my case, as I have stated on the 216th page of my 
book. But Mr. Alvord utterly refused to give me a copy, 
or even to let me see the records. And when this gentle- 
man was summoned to appear in court, that he might be 
compelled to give me my just rights, he testified that he 
could not give up those records " without exposing himself 
to a criminal prosecution;" and further testified that "he 
did not know absolutely that Dr. Adams was a member 
of the Association," when, as scribe, he had often recorded 
his name as being a member, and as presiding in his turn as 
moderator, and whose membership could not have ceased with- 
out his knowledge as scribe, and at last acknowledged that 
his refusal to testify was approved of by Dr. Adams, who 
said "it would be a defence to him" (Dr. Adams.) This 
is one of the gentlemen whose testimony aided the council in 
coming to their result, so expressive of their confidence and 



52 

love for the officers of the Phillips Church. If I had been 
guilty of such swearing, I should hardly have escaped an 
indictment for perjury. 

The other gentleman named was Eev. William W. Pat- 
ton, my immediate successor as pastor of that church. He 
was not present in person ; but I am told that a letter from 
him was read, highly lauding the officers of the Phillips 
Church. This is the gentleman who, in company with his 
deacons, (Vinton and Drake,) was present at the Exeter 
council,, acting in concert with them to procure my convic- 
tion, and who afterwards signed the remonstrance against my 
installation, written by Dr. Adams, and acted so indecorously 
on the day when that council assembled. This is the gentle- 
man who wrote that filthy letter to Deacon Drake, an account 
of which will be found on the 157th page of my book, in 
which he says to the deacon, (i Will you please show this 
letter to Eev. Nehemiah Adams, as it will save me the 
trouble of writing to him? I thought that these things 
would interest you, and might, some way, be put to use. 
We must not despair ; God will yet bring out the truth 
about Mr. Fairchild, and his almost unparalleled guilt will 
be exposed." The written testimony of this gentleman is 
taken by that council as satisfactory proof of the good Chris- 
tian character of the officers of the Phillips Church. Why, 
these two witnesses and the leading member of that council 
had virtually pledged themselves years ago not to rest till 
they had driven me from the pulpit. Now, for an ecclesias- 
tical council, on such committed and one-sided testimony,* 
gravely to tell the world that the " Phillips Church and its 
officers were worthy of the continued confidence and love of 
all the churches," is a transaction not likely to add much to 
the respectability and influence of ecclesiastical councils. 

When these gentlemen, unprovoked by me, and not re- 



53 



quired by the legitimate business which they were called to 
transact, went out of their way to give another thrust at my 
reputation, am I to be censured for referring to them and 
their doings in my Farewell Address, which was designed, in 
part at least, as the final vindication of myself and my friends, 
from the aspersions which had been cast upon us ? . I act in 
this matter solely on the principle of self-defence. On this 
principle I have acted from the beginning, and shall do so to 
the end. I wish those gentlemen no ill, who have so long 
and so eagerly sought my ruin. I have not an unkind feel- 
ing in my heart towards them. There is not one of them 
whom I would not most readily forgive, on the confession of 
his wrong. My prayer is that God would grant them the 
grace of repentance, and constrain them henceforth to mani- 
fest the spirit and temper of their Master, and obey his gold- 
en rule. 

But I have not done with that result of council. In its 
closing paragraph, I find a severe censure on some of those 
who have seceded from the Phillips Church. If I have been 
correctly informed, this censure was called forth principally 
by the fact that a certain paper was read to the council which 
had met to organize the seceders into a church, containing re- 
flections on some of the members of the Phillips Church, 
which would, if true, as they alleged, prove them unfit to be 
connected with any Christian church. It seems that the late 
council convened by the Phillips Church to give them ad- 
vice, called for the paper containing those charges, and that 
it was not produced. In consequence of this refusal, it is 
intimated in the result, that the new church will not have the 
fellowship of sister churches, without that " repentance and 
acknowledgment which is essential to their esteem and confi- 
dence." " * Fair play is a jewel,' was the saying of the boys 
when I was one of them ; and the spirit of the saying is as 



54 

good for men as boys, and quite as good for ministers as for 
the people." On the 318th page of my book, the reader will 
find that a certain document containing grave charges against 
me, which, if true, would forever banish me from the pulpit 

— was read to certain members of my church, for the 
purpose of convincing them that they were sustaining a 
man as their minister, who was a vile and polluted wretch 

— a document which it was promised should be deliv- 
ered up for my use, as soon as it could conveniently be 
copied, but which, instead of being thus delivered, was 
destroyed at the suggestion of the leading member of the 
late council ; or, to use the words of those who destroyed the 
document, " Dr. Adams did advise us, and told us that it 
was very important that we should know what the law was 
on the subject." Here, then, was a document seriously im- 
plicating my moral character, and promised to my friends, 
that I might see it, but which was withheld by the direction 
of Dr. Adams, who, as they said, " was their spiritual ad- 
viser," and was allowing them all the while to commune 
with his church at the Lord's table. And now he calls for 
repentance and acknowledgment for withholding a document 
which had never been promised by the writer, and which 
he might legally withhold. He even threatens him and the 
seceding church which sustains him, with excommunication 
from Christian fellowship ! " Thou art inexcusable, man ! 
that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou con- 
demnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same 
things." "Physician! heal thyself." 



55 
NOTE B . 

LETTER OF RESIGNATION. 

To the members of the Payson Church and Society : 

Brethren and Friends : — I take this occasion to pre- 
sent to you my request to be released from my connection 
with you as your pastor and religious teacher. 

A few years ago, in accordance with your wishes, I entered 
upon the enterprise of seeking pecuniary aid from Christians 
of different denominations to enable us to erect a church edi- 
fice as our future place of worship. I commenced that ardu- 
ous undertaking with strong hopes of success ; but at the 
same time with a firm determination that if the enterprise 
failed, I would forthwith resign my office. I soon succeeded 
in obtaining funds sufficient to commence operations, and to 
prepare the foundation for the reception of the walls. After 
I had gone thus far, the commercial affairs of the community 
became, such that I found it difficult to obtain additional con- 
tributions ; but still I did not wholly relinquish the hope of 
success until the recent distressing embarrassment which has 
befallen our merchants and men of business, to whom alone I 
could look for further aid. But as the case now stands, I 
feel compelled to give up the enterprise, and to notify you 
of the fact without delay. True, I have quite an amount 
subscribed and promised beyond what has been paid and ex- 
pended ; but it is all conditional, none of it being payable 
unless the whole amount required is subscribed, and within a 
limited time, which will soon expire. Hence my present re- 
quest, which I hope you will grant, as soon as you can con- 
veniently meet to act in the case. 

If agreeable to your wishes, my pastoral relation to you 



56 

will continue until the nineteenth day of November, as that 
day completes twelve years of my ministerial labors among 
you. And as the twenty-second day of November, (which 
is the Sabbath,) will be the completion of thirty years since 
my installation over the Phillips Church, from which this 
church was gathered, there seems to be a peculiar propriety 
in selecting that day as the time for delivering to you my 
farewell address. 

While tendering my resignation, I would say, with grati- 
tude to God, that our relationship during these twelve years, 
has been one of the utmost harmony and brotherly affection. 
A kind Providence has not permitted anything to take place 
among ourselves, to trouble us, or even to indicate a want 
of mutual love and confidence. In the exercise of this feel- 
ing we came together at first, and in the exercise of the same 
feeling we separate. 

By accepting my resignation, to take effect at the time 
specified, you will confer a favor on 

Your affectionate pastor, 

J. H. FAIRCHILD. 

South Boston, October 4, 1857. 



DOINGS OF THE PAYSON CHURCH IN RELATION TO THE 
PRECEDING LETTER. 

The Committee of the Pay son Church appointed to con- 
sider the request of our pastor, Rev. Joy H. Faircliilcl, to be 
released from his pastoral relation to us, and to recommend 
to the church such action thereon as they might think proper, 
beg leave to report : 

That after deliberate reflection, they are satisfied that Mr. 
Fairehild, having labored faithfully among us, while we were 



57 

not able to give him any sufficient compensation for his sup- 
port, ought to be released from the care and responsibility of 
the pastoral office, and they recommend 

1st. That his resignation be accepted. 

2d. That we express to him our gratitude for his perse- 
vering efforts to advance our prosperity, and especially to 
provide for us a church edifice. A foundation has been laid, 
though the erection of the building is of necessity suspended. 

3d. That having, for twelve years, listened to his preach- 
ing and witnessed his manner of life, we declare our full 
confidence in his moral and Christian character. 

4th. That, as we have labored together with perfect har- 
mony, and with mutual sympathy under severe trials, we 
cannot separate from our beloved pastor without some ex- 
pression of our sorrow. This, however, is mingled with 
thanksgiving to God, that this separation did not take place 
before he had fully vindicated himself from the vile aspersions 
cast upon him, and had come forth from the furnace without 
the smell of fire on his robes. Our best wishes go with him, 
and our prayers ascend for his continued health and useful- 
ness : And, 

5th. That though the Payson Church is a feeble vine, we 
earnestly recommend that our holy organization be not sud- 
denly dissolved, but that we still continue our present organ- 
ization, until such time as God, in his Providence, may make 
our path of duty more plain. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

JOSEPH NICKERSON, Chairman. 

At a meeting of the Payson Church, on Monday evening, 
November 9th, 1857, the above Report was read by the 
Chairman, and unanimously adopted. 

Attest, LEVI WALLBRIDGE, Clerk. 



58 



NOTE C . 

PKOCEEDINGS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCIL CALLED 
TO INSTALL KEV. J. H. FAIKCHILD. 

South Boston, Nov. 19, 1845. 

In compliance with letters missive from the Pay son Church 
and Society in this place, for the purpose of installing Rev. 
J. H. Fairchild as Pastor of said Church, an Ecclesiastical 
Council convened here this day, consisting of the following 
ministers and brethren, viz : 

Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D., of the Theological Seminary 
at Andover. 

Eev. Reuben Emerson, Pastor of the Congregational 
Church in South Reading. 

Rev. Jonathan French, Pastor of the Congregational 
Church in North Hampton, New Hampshire. 

From the First Church in Ipswich, Rev. D. T. Kimball, 
Pastor, and brother Josiah Caldwell, Delegate. 

From the Congregational Church in Easton, Rev. Luther 
Sheldon, Pastor. 

From the First Church in Woburn, Rev. Joseph Bennett, 
Pastor, and Rev. Luther Wright, Delegate. 

From the First Church in Dedham, Rev. Ebenezer Bur- 
gess, D.D., Pastor, and brother John Bullard, Delegate. 

From the First Church in Bradford, Rev. Nathan Mun- 
roe, Pastor, and brother John Benson, Delegate. 

Rev. Samuel Hopkins, of Saco, Maine. 

Rev. Louis Dwight, Boston. 

From the First Church in Exeter, N. H., brother Isaac 
L. Folsom, Delegate. 

The Council was organized by the choice of Rev. Joseph 



59 



Bennett, Moderator, Rev. D. T. Kimball, Scribe, and Rev. 
Nathan Munroe, Assistant Scribe, and opened with prayer, 
by the Moderator. 

Letters were read from Rev. Dudley Phelps, of Groton, 
Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, of Concord, N. II., Rev. Gardner 
B. Perry, D.D., of East Bradford, and Rev. Alfred Ely, 
D.D., of Monson, in excuse for their absence as follows: 

Groton, Nov. 11, 1845. 

Dear Sir : — The day after I received the letter missive 
from the Committee of the Payson Church and Society, 
requesting my attendance, with a delegate, at a Council for 
your installation on the nineteenth instant, I received a simi- 
lar letter from the Church in Pittsfield, N. H., to attend a 
Council there on the same day. I am under obligation to 
preach the sermon on that occasion. I am sorry for this 
coincidence of time, as I should like to be present at your 
installation. 

Accept my most earnest wishes for your usefulness and 
happiness in the relation which is about to be formed be- 
tween you and that new church and people. 

Most truly yours, 

-p TU , DUDLEY PHELPS. 

Rev. J. H. Fairchild. 



Concord, N K, Nov. 13, 1845. 
Rev. J. H. Fairchild. 

Dear Sir : — The letter missive inviting the attendance 
of my Church, by Pastor and Delegate, on the Council for 
your installation, was duly received. A previous engage- 
ment to attend a Council at Pittsfield, on the same day, 
renders it impracticable for me to attend yours. You have, 
however, besides me, a large and truly respectable Council 



60 

invited. Please make known my reason for not being 
present. May yon and the Council enjoy the presence, 
direction and blessing of the great Head of the Church. 
Very sincerely, I am, dear sir, 

Yours in the Gospel, 

NATHANIEL BOUTON. 

Bradford, Nov. 15, 1845. 
Rev. Mr. Fairchild. 

Dear Sir : — I am sorry to be under the necessity of say- 
ing that, owing to the state of my health, it will not be prac- 
ticable for me to be present at your installation. I have been 
mostly confined to my house for several weeks — was not able 
even to attend meeting last Sabbath, and have no rational 
prospect of being able to do it to-morrow. I hope the Lord 
will be with you on that day, and with the good and worthy 
brethren who are called to aid on that important occasion. 
You will please present my best respects to the Council, and 
communicate the reason that I do not attend. 

I am, dear sir, with sentiments of due respect and affec- 
tion, Yours, 

GARDNER B. PERRY. 

Monson, Nov. 13, 1845. 
Rev. J. H. Fairchild. 

Dear Sir : — I received the invitation of the Payson 
Church and Society to sit in the Council to be convened on 
the nineteenth instant, for your installation. I am sorry to 
say that the season of the year, together with my age and 
infirmities, will probably prevent my attendance ; but you 
will have enough without me. As I have been fully 
acquainted with your character and religious views from the 
beginning, and also have been informed of all the proceed- 
ings in your late trial, I should fully acquiesce in that result 



61 



which shall install you as Pastor of that Church and minis- 
ter of that people. That such ought to be and will be the 
result, I have no doubt. 

Yours, with Christian affection and sympathy, 

ALFRED ELY. 

Soon after the organization of the Council, a communica- 
tion was presented to the Moderator, by Rev. G. W. Blag- 
den, accompanied by Rev. Silas Aiken, of Boston, which 
was read and remarked upon by the members. After 
which, on motion of Dr. Woods, the following resolution 
and vote were passed : 

Resolution : Resolved, that it is the judgment of this 
Council that, on the ground of the evidence exhibited before 
the court of justice, and the verdict of the jury, taken in 
connection with the result of the Ecclesiastical Council at 
Exeter, the Rev. Mr. Fairchild ought of right to be, and is 
regarded by us, as in good standing as a minister of the 
gospel, and that, if we proceed to install him as Pastor of 
this Church, it will be on this principle." 

Preamble and Vote : " Whereas, a communication of 
the nature of a remonstrance has been presented to this 
Council, signed by fourteen ministers of the Gospel in Bos- 
ton and the vicinity, stating reasons why they think the 
installation of the Rev. Mr. Fairchild is not expedient, 

" Voted — That a Committee of three be chosen to make 
a respectful reply to said communication." 

The Council then chose Rev. Messrs. French, Sheldon 
and Burgess as the Committee. 

The call of the Payson Church and of the religious So- 
ciety to Mr. Fairchild, and his acceptance of the same, were 
read and found regular. Mr. Fairchild made a comprehen- 



62 

sive but full statement of his religious sentiments, answered 
various questions proposed by different members of the 
Council, and gave an account of his religious experience. 
On which it was 

" Voted, unanimously, that the Council are satisfied with 
the qualifications of Mr. Fairchild, and are ready to proceed 
to his installation." 

The public services were then assigned, as follows : 
Invocation and reading the Scriptures to Rev. Mr. Mun- 
roe ; Prayer to Rev. Mr. Sheldon ; Sermon to Eev. Dr. 
Woods ; Installing Prayer to Rev. Mr. Emerson ; Charge 
to Rev. Mr. French ; Right Hand of Fellowship to Rev. 
Dr. Burgess; Concluding Prayer to Rev. Mr. Kimball. 
The services, in the presence of a deeply interested and 
very solemn assembly, were performed according to assign- 
ment. 

After the public services, the Committee appointed to 
make a respectful reply to the communication of Rev. Mr. 
Blagden and others, reported ; and *their Report was adopted 
by the Council, and is as follows : 

" The Ecclesiastical Council convened in this place, at 

the request of the Payson Church, to the Rev. Messrs. 

Blagden, Aiken, and other ministers in Boston and the 

vicinity. 

" Rev. and dear Brethren : Your communication ad- 
dressed to us, through our Moderator, was read and seriously 
considered. 

"In reply, we would fully express our respect for your 
character, and our regard to you personally. We trust you 
have, with sincerity and from Christian motives, stated your 
views. We doubt not that, when you are called to act as 



63 



members of ecclesiastical bodies, you do it in the fear of 
God, and in reference to the account to be rendered at the 
last day. We hope you will allow us, also, to act on our 
own convictions of duty ; and it is with this conviction of 
duty that we have unanimously voted to install the Kev. 
Mr. Fairchild as Pastor of the Payson Church. 

" We have found that this Church was regularly organ- 
ized by a Council fully competent, and well acquainted with 
the circumstances of the churches in this vicinity. 
" In behalf of the Council, 

"D. T, KIMBALL, Scribe:' 



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